This design features a flight deck capable of accommodating the simultaneous operation of six helicopters, vehicle decks for over 100 military vehicles and an enclosed well dock, which can accept up to four landing craft utility vessels. It is also equipped with a state of the art integrated bridge system and an integrated communications suite to support land, sea and air operations.

Together, these features ensure this ship design can provide a flexible platform, capable of undertaking the full range of amphibious roles including strategic power projection and peace support operations. It also has huge capacity for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

BAE Systems has proven capabilities in the design and delivery of amphibious assault vessels for the UK Royal Navy and other navies around the world.

In particular, we designed and built the Ocean Class Landing Platform Helicopter, Albion Class Landing Platform Dock and Bay Class Logistic Support Ships at our shipyards in Govan on the Clyde and Barrow-in-Furness in the 1990s and early 2000s.

These ships are in service with the UK Royal Navy today and our considerable operational experience in the delivery of these vessels has informed the design of our next generation LHD.